Chapter 63 – So Lonely (1/2)
The information that Hifumi invaded Horant has been brought not to the king but to Veldore. For that to happen, Yugu manoeuvred within the castle. But that’s something Veldore doesn’t know.
“They stepped into our country, you say?” (Yugu)
“It looks like he annihilated our border guards.” (Messenger)
Yugu, who listened to the report along Veldore, sighed.
“However, if it’s a small group of 10 people, it will be simple to crush them before they barely manage to reach the capital.” (Veldore)
Hearing the words of Veldore, the soldier, who came to report, timidly remarked,
“That is… they have already broken through two cities. They are believed to arrive at the capital within a few days…” (Messenger)
Veldore, standing up suddenly, threw the porcelain sake cup in his hand on the floor.
“Why weren’t we informed of this before?” (Veldore)
The soldier, who completely shrunk away, knelt while trembling.
“Please calm down, Veldore-sama. … This might be a good opportunity.” (Yugu)
“What do you mean?” (Veldore)
Yugu had the soldier withdraw and lowered his voice so that others wouldn’t be able to hear it.
“I will draw a plot like this.” (Yugu)
Quietly whispering the plan into Veldore’s ears. It was a method to spectacularly and honorably rise to the crown in a way desirable for Veldore.
Although Veldore was laughing and grinning broadly, he felt a sudden doubt.
“However, the king’s surrounding is guarded by the soldiers of the Imperial Guard. They don’t smell like soldiers I could entice to my side. Won’t it be impossible to advance the plan without having such pawns to begin with?” (Veldore)
“You are jesting. I have prepared the strongest private army ・・・ You think they aren’t?” (Yugu)
“… You want to use that, huh?” (Veldore)
“It’s just the right opportunity. Let’s show the people the strength of their new king.” (Yugu)
Veldore hesitated.
The private army of Veldore, that Yugu means, are soldiers in name only as they are experimental bodies, but although they are in a condition possible to be controlled, they repeatedly went through experiments of implantation, medication and such. You absolutely can’t show their faces and figures in public as their appearance can be called nothing more but “somehow able to keep a human shape.”
“There’s no necessity to be worried. The combat will be limited to within the castle only. At the time they are shown to the public, their whole body will be entirely covered in armor.” (Yugu)
“Uh huh…” (Veldore)
“Please leave the arrangements to me, even including that area.” (Yugu)
Velodore thought for a moment as Yugu made an elegant bow, but no other good plan came to mind.
“Very well, we will adopt Yugu’s plan.” (Veldore)
“Please leave it to me.” (Yugu)
Yugu, who raised his face, laughed while twirling his mustache.
☺☻☺
Silence is spreading during the audience.
In front of the princess, who is standing next to the throne, the Third Knight Unit’s Captain Lotomago and Prime Minister Adol are kneeling. On both sides of the room guards are lined up in a row. They are uniformly filled with grave looks. Everyone’s but the princess’s facial expression is clouded. They aren’t mourning over the prince. That is in consideration of the princess who knew about the death of her brother.
There is no one but Imeraria who genuinely mourns over the death of the prince.
“… My brother has been killed by Hifumi after all…?” (Imeraria)
“No… we have received the report that the prince was killed by someone called Origa who is Earl Tohno’s attendant.” (Lotomago)
It was Lotomago denying Imeraria’s suspicion.
He, who belatedly received the report, forced the information upon the princess disregarding Adol’s inhibition. Adol, being reluctantly next to him, tried to do a follow-up for Imeraria.
“Origa-san is…” (Adol)
Imeraria recalled her giving off the impression to always be at Hifumi’s side and that she was a woman having a lovely face with eyes concealing a strong ambition while being of the same age as her, although she didn’t talk much with her.
Imeraria, who was about to lose her strength due to Lotomago’s words telling the circumstances at that time, frantically strengthened her feet to keep standing.
What came over my younger brother. I wonder if he went to the battlefield thinking of it as going on a pleasure jaunt as he has been manipulated by his surroundings. Though still being a child which hasn’t yet gone to the front, he became engrossed in fooling around and being waited upon by women.
No matter what, Imeraria didn’t bear any grudge against Origa.
Once she heard the circumstances and learned about the extent, it was obvious that her younger brother didn’t have the qualification to be the king. She couldn’t consider it anything but him reaping what he sowed.
However, in the end he was the last other remaining royalty. Despite great efforts into protecting him, she ended up loosing her young brother easily and lost hope herself too.
Imeraria is barely standing due to nothing but her responsibility as royalty.
“… Is there anyone else who saw the actual scene?” (Imeraria)
“Ha! Except the knight who reported it to me, there is someone from the Second Knight Order, who returned today.” (Lotomago)
Lotomago, obtaining Imeraria’s permission, had the waiting knight enter the audience room.
It was Vaiya, who came entering while holding his helmet under his arm and straightening his back quickly.
Coming to a stop slightly behind Lotomago and Adol, he quietly fell to his knees and bowed his head.
“I allow you to speak freely. Please tell us everything you observed.” (Imeraria)
“Ha!” (Vaiya)
Having been permitted to stand up so that everyone could hear him clearly, Vaiya explained in detail what happened for the situation to have such outcome and in what kind of situation the Second Knight Order, First Knight Order, Hifumi and Biron had been while cautiously making sure to not have eye contact with the princess.
Everyone, who was at the audience, listened attentively to the report without interrupting.
Even more than the merciless annihilation of the prince faction by Hifumi, Imeraria hasn’t even any words for the enhancement of the live-experiment imitation-soldiers performed by Vichy.
Furthermore Vaiya reported that a part of the Fokalore feudal army, en route to return, is accompanied by the rescued, former soldier of Horant and that they are currently taking a rest in borrowed barracks of the capital.
“And, what’s the matter with Hifumi-sama and the main force of the Fokalore feudal army?” (Imeraria)
“Earl Tohno and a part of the soldiers have gone ahead to invade the territory of Horant. Having completely annihilated the enemy’s border guards, they are headed for the capital of the enemy nation. The main force is following Earl Tohno with a delay of half a day.” (Vaiya)
Imeraria was at her wits’ end due to Vaiya’s words.
“Even though we didn’t even hold peace talks with Vichy yet… Though it is probably futile to try stopping him as well.” (Imeraria)
“At any rate”, Imeraria looked at Vaiya standing in front of her.
“You are a knight belonging to the Second Knight Order, right? I thought your standpoint was to support my younger brother. Why are you on the side of the Third Knight Order’s Captain Lotomago?” (Imeraria)
“Ha! I’m just a single knight. Since I only followed my captain’s policy, I think I want to keep a distance from things like political deals and factions myself. However, due to the failure this time there are only a few survivors of the Second Knight Order. Because it reached a situation about which nothing can be done and as we didn’t have any authority, I consulted about our future course with the Third Knight Order’s captain.” (Vaiya)
Lotomago, who fully grasped the circumstances, acknowledged to look after the Second Knight Order and apparently ordered him to report that to Imeraria.
“I see… Understood. From this point on the Second Knight Order is dissolved. The Third Knight Order will be treated as Orsongrande’s sole knight order. I will entrust the continuation to act as captain to Lotomago.” (Imeraria)
Lotomago opened his mouth due to Imeraria asking him whether that’s fine.
“With all due respect… I won’t object either and will gladly accept serving as captain of the unified knight order, however I think that you are too generous to grant me this post, especially in regards to consolidating the knight orders.” (Lotomago)
“However”, Lotomago lifted his head.
“It’s undesirable for anyone but Imeraria-sama to consolidate the core of the national military forces. Supposing that the imperial guard is the only other organisation besides the knight order, I wonder, in my humble opinion, whether it would be fine for it to take the shape of Imeraria-sama being in command.” (Lotomago)
The prime minister also expressed his approval towards Lotomago’s recommendation.
If Lotomago had stayed silent, he would have ascended to the highest position concerning the national military affairs, the knights in the surrounding thought as they exchanged looks with each other.
“Understood. I highly appreciate the good sense and judgement of Lotomago. And for the newly organised Imperial Knight Order… do you want to nominate anyone?” (Imeraria)
“Ha! Although he is young, he is a knight possessing a pragmatic judgement. I nominate Sabnak. And as his advisor and vice-captain, Vaiya over here.” (Lotomago)
Due to Lotomago’s words, Vaiya, who had knelt down again, spontaneously raised his head. It was the first time he had heard about being recommended.
“Let me ask for the reason.” (Imeraria)
“Sabnak is an acquaintance of Earl Tohno. He has received the Earl’s influence in a good way. Either way, I think that he also able to handle things flexibly. He even has such degree of managerial ability that he had been requested by the Earl to aid in the administration of the territory. He has insufficient experience, but that’s no problem to begin with.” (Lotomago)
After having said this much, Lotomago looks at Vaiya with a fleeting glance.